Love your gel manicure and consider yourself a nail enthusiast; if so, did you know that it is possible to dry gel nail polish without a UV light? That’s right; there are a few ways to dry gel polish with no UV light. If you are thinking about doing your gel nails at home, then you’ll want to know how to dry gel nail polish without UV light.
So imagine you are the busy type and that weekend getaway, wedding, or trip with your friends is coming up, and you simply have no time to make it to the salon, or perhaps you just feel like staying in. Either way, if you want to take on the task of doing your own gel manicure at home, knowing how to dry gel nail polish without UV light will save you lots of trouble.
Learning how to dry gel nail polish without UV light is also great for people without access to one. And what about those whose UV light simply stopped working? Then you’ll be glad you have the knowledge to dry gel nail polish minus UV light.
If you feel intimidated by the idea of taking your gel mani on your own, you have nothing to worry about. Instead, make sure you do your research and have what it takes to make it happen. Then all you have to do is follow the right steps, and before you know it, you’ll master how to dry gel nail polish without UV light.
Gel Nail Polish Explained
Gel nail polish gives you stunning nails with a salon-quality finish that’s hard to top compared to the regular manicure. Gel nail polish is defined as a type of lacquer that requires UV or LED light to cure.
Gel polish is also thicker than regular polish, but it is also more flexible and resilient. Gel polish is available in many colors and can last for weeks without chipping.
How To Dry Gel Nail Polish Without UV Light: Ice Water Bath
Step 1 Fill a bowl with ice water
It should be more water than ice since contact with any solids may smudge your polish.
For this step, we recommend a glass bowl like this Anchor Hocking 4-Quart Glass Mixing Bowl, which comes in a set of two.
This Anchor Hocking set of mixing bowls contains (2) 4-quart mixing bowls. Beautify how you prep, and serve how you mix.
Anchor Hocking glass is healthier than plastic and metal. It will not warp, stain, retain smells, or leach dangerous chemicals into food or drinks. And are big enough to fit your hands.
Step 2 Dip nails in the bowl
After air-drying for five or ten minutes, dip your fingernails into a bowl of ice water. Keep submerged for three minutes, then remove.
Step 3 Allow polish to set
Your fingers should be numb by then, but don’t try to warm them. You’ll need to sit still and let everything set for another hour.
Don’t be fooled by the seemingly sturdy state of your polish: it’s not done right out of the bath.
How To Dry Gel Nail Polish Without UV Light: Cooking Spray
Step 1 Prepare the area
This method could be a little messy, so make sure to lay down newspapers or similar to deal with the mess.
Step 2 Apply oil
Apply to freshly-painted nails, holding a can six inches from the nail. Spray nails generously and let dry gel nails naturally. Then, let sit for hours until the nail is completely dry.
Be sure not to touch anything, or they’ll smudge awfully. For best results, use canola oil, which can moisturize your nails.
We recommend using PAM Non Stick Original Cooking Spray, the undisputed no-stick cooking spray.
PAM Original Cooking Spray makes cleaning your cookware quick and easy. Formulated for superior no-stick performance, this no-stick spray for cooking will help you easily pull off your next meal.
This canola oil blend cooking spray is a great alternative to traditional butter and oil, perfect for eggs, chicken, pancakes, or brownies. This nonstick cooking spray is also made with no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.
Step 3 Wipe off
Once your gel nail polish has dried completely, wipe off the spray.
Try using Intrinsics Petite Silken Wipes. The low absorbent blend of fibers makes this wipe ideal for applying product to the skin without wasting expensive beauty creams and liquids.
Soft and luxurious feeling. Bring the luxury and pamper of your favorite spa to your daily routine at home.
These professional skincare essentials are used by top certified estheticians, renowned spas, and salons worldwide.
How To Dry Gel Nail Polish Without UV Light Additional Tips
TIP 1: Opt for a thinner coat to help your gel nail polish dry faster. When you use a light touch, the paint is dried by air and paint only. The drying process is also faster, so you’ll save time in the long run.
Also, when you use a light touch when drying gel polish, there’s no need for a topcoat. If you apply a topcoat after being in sunlight or another source of damaging radiation like Uv light, then your color will change and fade.
TIP 2: You can also try sitting under the sun for a while, sit under the sun until your freshly painted nails have cured. After all, the sun is also a UV light source.
TIP 3: If you’re avoiding UV rays, you can always use a gel polish that doesn’t require UV light. These will simply dry like normal nail polish. Swipe a base coat on your nails, apply the gel polish color, and apply a top coat.
You can try Essie Gel Couture Longwear Nail Polish. This light pink long-wear nail polish provides a chip and fade-resistant color with gel-like high shine.
Patented swirl stem and curve-hugging brush for even color coverage and precise application.
Remove gel couture nail polish with any acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover; no harsh soaking, scrubbing, or scraping is needed.
TIP 4: You should only use a UV light to dry gel nails under special circumstances, including preparing for a big event and not having time for trial-and-error; then, yes, for best results, utilize a UV light to dry gel nail polish.
We recommend MEECI Cordless UV LED Nail Lamp for Gel Polish when you must use a UV light. This UV nail dryer is the best choice DIY at home or salon, or at friends’ parties.
This cordless UV Led nail lamp features a built-in 15600mAH rechargeable battery, and the premium quality battery can be used for 3-4 hours after being fully charged. It is suitable for use in the home and outdoors.
This UV-led gel nail lamp comes with 36pcs durable, long-lasting UV/LED light beads, compatible with all gels and non-harmful substances to the human body.
Common Questions About How To Dry Gel Nail Polish Without UV Light
Why is it important to know how to dry gel nail polish without UV light?
We can all agree that gel nail polish is stunning. However, its biggest caveat is that it requires a LED or UV light to cure it.
This isn’t ideal for several reasons, the most important being that UV lamps aren’t exactly good for your health. The second is the cost of investing in a lamp since most people don’t have one on hand.
This is why you should learn other alternatives when it comes to drying gel nail polish at home and without the use of UV lamps. These alternatives may not be perfect, but one can still try.
How does UV light work to cure gel nail polish?
Gel nail polish is made of a type of synthetic polymer called polyurethane. This polymer is liquid at room temperature but can be hardened by exposure to UV light.
When the UV light hits the gel polish, it causes the molecules in the polyurethane to cross-link or connect to each other. This cross-linking process turns liquid gel into a solid, durable coating, thus helping the polish harden quickly and evenly.
Will gel polish dry on its own?
Gel nails will not dry or cure without adding a UV or LED drying process. Both ways will start the process of polymerization.
The molecules in the gel polish work with the light rays to produce a hard, smudge, and chip-free finish. The process takes around 3 minutes.
How to dry gel nail polish without UV light?
One way to learn how to dry gel nail polish without UV light is by holding your nails in ice-cold water to harden gel polish. Stick your nails into the water, ensuring that all the nails are completely submerged.
Hold your nails under the water for about 3 minutes before removing them from the bowl. Let your fingers and nails air dry for at least an hour.
How long does it take for gel polish to dry without a UV lamp?
There are some polishes that you don’t need a lamp; simply let your color dry for two minutes before you apply a second coat for an opaque finish.
How do you dry gel nail polish at home?
Gel nail polish cures (or hardens) using a UV or LED lamp. Curing your gel nail polish is easy.
All you need to do is apply the polish, put your hand under the lamp, and press start. Keep your hand still and wait for the light to go out on your lamp, simple.
How do I dry gel nail polish if I don’t have a lamp?
It’s best to try not to air-dry gel nail polish that requires UV or LED light. This will just leave the polish tacky and smudge-prone. Only no-light gel polishes can be air-dried.
Make sure to follow the polish manufacturer’s directions from the beginning, and you’ll finish your manicure more successfully and expediently.
Are there any downsides to drying gel nail polish without UV light?
When you dry your polish without Uv light, you will notice that it takes longer to dry. This is because the paint is less likely to turn matte.
